Switch assembly with removable units



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NW NW 3332 3333 INVENTOR MICHAEL A. TABET ATTORNEY Dec. 26, 1961 M. A. TABET SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH REMOVABLE UNITS Filed March 2s, 1.959

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Dec. 26, 1961 M A. TABET swncn ASSEMBLY WITH REMOVABLE umws 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 26, 1959 INVENTOR MICHAEL A. TABET ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 3,015,000 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH REMOVABLE UNITS Michael A. Tabet, Norfolk, Va., assignor to Tabet Manufacturing Company, Inc., Norfolk, Va., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 802,106

' 11 Claims. (Cl. 200-14) The present invention relates to electrical switches and more specifically pertains to an assembly which includes a plurality of wafers each carrying circuit making and breaking means thereon and a frame for the wafers with the parts so constructed that any of the wafer units may be readily removed and replaced.

An object of the invention is to provide a switch assembly wherein a plurality of wafers are employed each of which is provided with circuit making and breaking means with each wafer carrying conductors which may be introduced into multiple contact receptacles carried by a frame for the assembly and to provide novel means maintaining the wafer units in detachable operative association with other portions of the switch assembly and in operative relationship with means actuating the circuit making and breaking means with the switch structure so constructed and arranged that the wafer units may be readily removed from the switch assembly.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide improvements in the wafer units for a switch assembly wherein the rotor making up a portion of the circuit making and breaking means is so constructed as to improve the connection with the shaft for actuating the circuit making and breaking means. 7

Other objects and features of the invention will be appreciated and become apparent to those skilled in the art pertaining to circuit making and breaking devices and as the present disclosure proceeds and upon consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a switch assembly exhibiting the invention with one of the cover plates in a partly detached position.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view with portions broken away and parts illustrated in section on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a-transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one of the wafer units and an associated actuating shaft.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the wafer units.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

A switch embodying the invention includes a frame carrying a plurality of multiple contact receptacles in fixed relationship therewith with a plurality of water units each in the form of a plate or board carrying conductors thereon and switch means which includes a rotor for establishing circuit relationship with the conductors. A shaft is journalled for rotation on the frame for actuating each rotor and the rotors are in operative association with the shafts when the conductors on each water are in circuitrelationship with the multiple contact receptacles. Each wafer unit is detachable from its multiple contact receptacle and from the assembly and means is provided for maintaining the wafer units in operative association with the multiple contact receptacles and with the respective shafts.

Referring to the drawings there is shown at 10 a frame which includes a side wall 11 and a side wall 12 which are maintained in transverse spaced substantially parallel relationship by means of a third wall 14in the form of a plate. The plate is provided with flanges 17 at the ends thereof which serve to strengthen the wall 14. The longitudinal side edges of the plate 14 carries flanges 19 and 21. These flanges lie along the inner faces of the side walls 11 and 12 and may be riveted or otherwise secured to the respective side walls.

The plate 14 is provided with a plurality of elongated V openings 27 which are arranged in alignment lengthwise of the frame. Another series of elongated openings 26 are arranged with their lengthwise dimensions in alignment longitudinally of the frame. The openings 26 and 27 are adapted to receive multiple contact receptacles 28 having terminals 24 and the multiple contact receptacles are of the type disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 678,359, filed August 15, 1957, now abandoned. The multiple contact receptacles 28 are adapted to be received within the elongated openings 26 in one row and the elongated openings 27 in the other row. Each multiple contact receptacle is secured to the wall 14 by means of cap screws 22. Each multiple contact receptacle 28 is provided with a lengthwise recess 25 with resiliently mounted contacts 30 along opposite sides of the recess 25 for engaging end portions of conductors 31 carried by a wafer unit as hereinafter described.

The switch assembly includes a plurality of wafers or plates 29. Each wafer 29 is formed of insulating material and carries electrical conductors 31 thereon which may be partially embedded in the plate to provide a printed circuit type of water. Each wafer is provided with a circular opening 35. A slot 32 extends from the end edge 33 of each wafer in communication with the circular opening 35.

A rotor 34 is mounted for rotation in the circular opening 35. The rotor is formed of two parts 36 and 37 as best shown in FIG. 6. The two disc-shaped parts 36 and 37 are joined to each other by means of rivets 38 after mounting of the two parts in the circular opening 35. An annular flange 39 is carried by the periphery of the disc-shaped part 36 of the rotor and a similar annular flange 41 is carried by the disc-shaped part 37. The inner faces of the flanges 39 and 41 are so spaced that when the rotor 34 is assembled in the circular opening 35 the flanges 39 and 41 overlie opposite faces of the wafer 29 around the opening 35. Such structural arrangement permits the rotor 34 to be freely rotated within each circular opening 35 of the associated wafer with the flanges 39 and 41 effectively preventing dislodgment of the rotor from association with the wafer. The rotor parts 36 and 37 are desirably formed of insulating material.

Each wafer carries a plurality of conductors 3-1 on one or both faces thereof which terminate flush with the end edge 33 of the wafer. The conductors 31 extend in any suitable pattern over the surface of the wafer and are brought into circuit relationship'with circumferentially spaced contacts 40 disposed about the periphery of the rotor 34 by a conductive arm 46 carried by each face of the rotor 34 as shown in FIG. 3. The arms 46 may be secured to the rotor 34 by means of the rivets 38.

The rotor 34 is provided with a radially disposed slot 47 as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 which extends from the perimeter of the rotor and the annular flanges 39 and 41 and terminates short of the axis of the rotor 34. Weakening of the rotor 34 is thus reduced and this is particularly of importance when the rotor is of small dimensions. The slot 47 is adapted to be aligned with the slot 32 formed in the wafer 29 and such relationship is desirably obtained when the switch means which includes the rotor 34 is in the otf position. Each wafer 29 is provided with shoulders at 48 which serves as abutments limiting the introduction of the portion adjacent the edge 33 in its multiple contact receptacle 28.

The switch assembly illustrated in the drawings makes provision for five switch uni-ts each of which includes a wafer and its rotor and one of the multiple contact receptacles 28. The switch assembly includes a shaft 51 for each switch unit and these shafts are journal'led for rotation on the frame by means of bearings 50 carried by the side wall 11. Each shaft 51 is of fiat rectangular shape in cross section as illustrated in FIG. 4. A notching or index device 52 of a known type is provided in association with each shaft 51. The indexing devices are mounted on the side wall 12 and journal associated ends of the shafts 51 for stepped rotation. A knob 53 arranged outside the side wall 12 provides for actuation of the respective shafts.

As best shown in FIG. 4 each shaft -1 has an offset portion at 54. The ofiset 54 is provided by forming a notch 55 in the bar shaped stock from which the shaft 51 is formed. The offset portion 54 opposite the notch 55 is adapted to be received within the slot 47 of a rotor 34. The shaft 5 1 however rotates about fixed centers as provided by the bearings carried by the side walls and each shaft rotates about the line 57 shown in FIG. 4. The offset portions on three of the shafts 51 are so located that they are in alignment longitudinally of the switch frame and are thus in position to be in operative association with the rotors of the wafers in one row and the offset portions 54 of the other two shafts 51 are in alignment longitudinally of the switch frame and are thus in position to be received within the slots 47 of the rotors carried by wafers in the other row. The otfset portions 54 of the shaft have the advantage of being radially displaced from the center 57 about which each shaft rotates to increase the lever arm action of the shafts without having the shaft continue in a straight line through'the center of each rotor. The wafers or switch units may be inserted in the multiple contact receptacles 28 when the rotor 34 of each wafer is oriented so that its slot 47 is in alignment with the slot 32. Each Water may then be introduced into one of the multiple contact receptacles 2.8 and the shaft 5 1 and its offset portion 54 is accommodated in the rotor.

The waferiinits may be held in position by means of a plate 59 which is adapted for sliding movement in relation to the frame. The plate 59 is provided with parallel grooves 61 which extend lengthwise of the plate and are so spaced as to accommodate the edge portion 62 (FIG. 3) of'each wafer. The plate 59 is adapted to slide under inturned flanges 63 and 64 carried respectively by the side walls 11 and 12. A notch 66 (FIG. 1) formed in the end portion of the plate 59 is adapted to receive a screw 67 for retaining the plate against dislodgment after it has been moved into position to cover all of the wafers 2-9. The grooves 61 prevent lateral shifting of the wafers 29 and prevent dislodgment thereof from a multiple contact receptacle 28 so that electrical circuits are maintained between the conductors 31and the contacts 30 arranged along the re- 'cess 25 of each multiple contact receptacle 28. The terminals 24 are in electrical conductive relationship with the contacts 3 0.

While the invention has been described with reference to specific structural features and with regard to one overall assembly it will be appreciated that modifications may be made in the elements and in the details as well as the general organization. Such changes and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An electrical switch assembly comprising, a frame including spaced side walls, a shaft having flat opposite faces journalled for rotation on said side walls, a third wall joining said side walls, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said third wall, said multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having conductors thereon terminating adjacent a first edge of the wafer, a rotor mounted for rotation on said wafer, said conductors terminating in circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm means carried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said firstedge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having a radially disposed slot therein adapted to be aligned with the first slot for receiving said shaft when the wafer is in position with the first edge portion within the recess of said multiple contact receptacle with the conductors thereon engaging said contacts, a second edge on said wafer opposite the first edge, a plate detachably mounted on the frame in abutting relationship with the second edge of said wafer, and said plate having a groove therein receiving the second edge portion of said wafer limiting lateral shifting of the wafer.

2. An electrical switch assembly comprising, a frame including spaced side walls, a shaft having flat opposite faces journalled for rotation on said side walls, a third wall joining said side walls, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said third wall, said multiple contact-receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having conductors thereon terminating adjacent a first edge of the wafer, a rotor mounted for rotation on said wafer, said conductors terminating in circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm means carried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said first edge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor havinga radially disposed slot therein adapted to bealigned with-the first slot for receiving said shaft when it is in position with the first edge portion within-said recess with the conductors thereon engaging said contacts, a second edge on said wafer opposite the first edge, inturned flanges carried by said side walls, a removable member in abutting relationship with said inturned flanges and in abutting relationship with the second edge of said wafer, and said member having a groove therein in the plane of the wafer receiving the second edge portion of the wafer limiting lateral movements thereof.

3.-An electrical switch assembly comprising, a frame including spaced side walls, a shaft having-fiat opposite facesjournalled for rotation on said side walls, athird wall joining said side walls, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said third wall, said multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having conductors thereon terminating adjacent a first edge of the wafer, a rotor mounted for rotation on said wafer, said conductors terminating in circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm meanscarried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said first edge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having a radially disposed slot therein adaptedto be aligned with the first slot for receiving said shaft when it-is in position with the first edge portion within said recess with the conductors thereon. engaging said contacts, a second edge on saidwafer opposite the first edge, inturned flanges carried by said side walls, a plate closing the area between said side walls with edges slidably engaging said flanges, and said plate having a groove therein extending in the plane of the wafer with the secondedge of the wafer engaging the plate within said groove.

4. An electrical switch assembly according to claim 3 wherein the corners of the wafer adjacent the plate are arcuate shaped.

5. An electrical switch assembly comprising, an elong ated frame including side walls, a third wall joining said side walls, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said third Wall, a second multiple contact receptacle carried by said third wall, each multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein extending lengthwise of said frame with the contacts of each receptacle arranged along the recess therein, the recess of one receptacle being in alignment with the recess in the other receptacle, wafers formed of insulating material each having conductors thereon terminating adjacent a first edge of the associated wafer, one of said wafers having its first edge portion within the recess of one receptacle engaging the contacts therealong and the other wafer having its first edge portion within the recess of the other receptacle with the conductors thereon engaging the contacts along the recess thereof, means on each wafer including a rotary element for making and breaking circuits to the conductors carried by the associated wafer, a second edge one on each wafer opposite the first edge, a plate disposed transversely of said side walls, means guiding said plate for sliding movements lengthwise of the frame, and said plate having a groove therein receiving the second edge portion of each wafer.

6. An electrical switch assembly comprising, an elongated frame including substantially parallel side walls, a third wall joining said side walls, a plurality of multiple contact receptacles carried by said third wall arranged in two rows lengthwise of the frame between said side Walls, each multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein aligned with the recess in the other receptacles in one of said rows lengthwise of said frame with the contacts arranged along the recess of each receptacle, wafers formed of insulating material each having conductors thereon extending to positions adjacent a first edge thereof with said first edge portion within the recess of one of said multiple contact receptacles and with the conductors engaging the contacts therealong, means on each Wafer including a rotary element for making and breaking circuits to the conductors carried by the associated wafer, a second edge on each wafer opposite its first edge, an elongated plate in abutting relationship with the second edge of all of said wafers, said side walls guiding said plate for sliding movements lengthwise of the frame, said late havin a roove therein receivin the second edge portion of each wafer in one row, and said plate having a second groove therein receiving the second edge portion of each wafer in the other row.

'7. An electrical switch assembly according to claim 6 wherein the multiple contact receptacles in one row are staggered lengthwise of the frame with respect to the multiple contact receptacles in the other row.

8; An electrical switch assembly comprising, a frame including spaced side walls, a shaft journalled for rotation on each said side walls, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said frame, said multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having conductors thereon terminating adjacent an edge of said wafer, a rotor mounted for rotation on said wafer, said conductors terminating at circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm means carried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said edge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having a radially disposed slot therein extending from the perimeter of the rotor terminating short of the axis thereof, an offset portion on said shaft having fiat opposite faces disposed radially outward from the axis of said shaft, and the slot in said rotor being adapted to be aligned with the first slot for receiving said offset portion when the wafer is in position within the frame and with said edge portion within said recess and with the conductors engaging said contacts.

9. An electrical switch assembly comprising, a frame including spaced walls, a shaft extending from one wall to the other and journalled on said walls for rotation about the axis of the shaft, a multiple contact receptacle car ried by said frame, said multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having conductors thereon with portions of the conductors extending toward an edge of said water, a portion of the wafer adjacent said edge extending into said recess with said conductors engaging said contacts, a rotor mounted on said wafer for rotation about the axis of said shaft, said conductors terminating at circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm means carried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said edge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having a radially disposed slot therein extending from the perimeter of the rotor towards but short of the axis of the rotor, and an offset portion on said shaft having flat opposite faces disposed radially outward from the axis of said shaft for engaging the rotor within said radially disposed slot.

10. An electrical switch assembly according to claim 9 wherein the offset portion of the shaft is rectangular shaped in cross section and substantially fills said radially disposed slot.

11. An electrical switch assembly comprising, spaced walls, a shaft journalled on said walls for rotation about its axis, a third wall substantially at right angles to and joining said walls forming a trough like frame, a multiple contact receptacle carried by said third wall, said multiple contact receptacle having a recess therein with contacts therealong, a wafer formed of insulating material having spaced conductors thereon extending toward a first edge of the wafer, a portion of said Wafer adjacent said first edge extending into said recess with said conductors en gaging said contacts, a rotor mounted on said wafer, for rotation about the axis of said shaft, said conductors terminating in circumferentially spaced positions about the periphery of said rotor, wiper arm means carried by the rotor adapted to engage said conductors during rotation of the rotor, said wafer having a slot therein extending from said first edge to the periphery of the rotor, said rotor having a radially disposed slot therein adapted to be aligned with the first slot for receiving said shaft, an offset portion on said shaft in the area of the rotor having flat opposite faces positioned radially outward from the axis of said shaft for engaging the rotor within said radially disposed slot, at second edge on said wafer opposite the first edge, inturned flanges carried by said spaced walls, a slidable member in abutting relationship with said inturned flanges and in abutting relationship with the second edge of said wafer, and said member having a groove therein in the plane of the wafer receiving the second edge portion of the wafer limiting lateral movements thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,796,755 Craig June 25, 1957 2,841,660 Tabet July 1, 1958 2,874,338 Pease Feb. 17, 1959 2,988,607 Tabet June 13, 196i 

